2 Kings 10: Jehu's Partial Obedience

"But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin." 2 Kings 10:31

We come to a passage of scripture today that shows us the perils of partial obedience. Before we dive into the text, let us consider ourselves: in what place of our lives have we only been partially obedient? Perhaps we have given to the Lord parts of our lives, yet held on to others. Let us remember this morning how this is not the definition of a Christian.

in 2 Kings 10, we find a man by the name of Jehu. Jehu popped up last chapter, as he was anointed king and started to bring God's judgment upon Jezebel and Ahab's line. In our chapter for today, Jehu continues that feat, bringing God's judgment upon those who deserve it. He ends up destroying the entire posterity of Abab and furthermore kills all of the prophets of Baal, thus cleansing Israel from Baal worship. From the outside, it looks like Jehu is a stand-up guy. He is clearing Israel of its false worship and destroying all of its evildoers.

However, scripture continues to tell us that Jehu was only partially obedient. He certainly succeeded in some areas, but the verse quoted above tells us that he still "failed to walk in the law of the Lord...with all his heart." Let us notice that part of his heart was following the Lord's law, but not all of his heart was. Thus, he caused Israel to sin, and thus did not fulfill his role as a king.

However, thousands of years after this event came a King who would not merely be partially obedient. He brought judgment upon those who disobeyed God as well as condemned idolatry, yet continued to follow God's law with all of his heart. Unlike Jehu, Jesus was fully obedient to God, and surely we ought to be as well.

So, how can you be better at being fully obedient to the Lord today? What areas of your life are you trying to hold on to? I encourage you, dear brother and sister, let go of them. God's plan of obedience is better than your plan of rebellion. Don't end up like Jehu, who caused all of his followers to sin. Rather, end up like Christ, who was able to show everyone around him how they ought to be fully surrendered to God in all that they do. Amen!